Specimen Treatment Apparatus With Parallel Reagent Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing specimen treatment apparatuses can efficiently perform centrifugation on multiple vials but lack efficiency in simultaneous addition of reagents and other treatments due to sequential operation.
Innovation Solution
A specimen treatment apparatus with a centrifugation device and an operating device featuring parallel dispensers that can simultaneously access multiple vials and reagent containers, controlled by a controller to align vial holders and dispensers for synchronized operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple vials are processed sequentially for reagent addition, then treatment accuracy is maintained, but processing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the treatment process by separating centrifugation (handled by the centrifugation device) from reagent addition (handled by the operating device with dispensers). This allows simultaneous execution of centrifugation on multiple vials while the operating device independently performs reagent addition on selected vials, thereby improving overall processing efficiency without compromising treatment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the centrifugation device and the operating device. It receives treatment information, determines which vials require reagent addition, and schedules the operating device to access specific vial holders at appropriate times during centrifugation, enabling efficient parallel processing while maintaining precise control over each treatment step
2Productivity
If a single dispenser is used for reagent addition, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple dispensers (first and second dispensers) into a single operating device that can simultaneously access multiple vial holders. This consolidation allows the device to perform reagent addition on multiple vials in parallel during centrifugation, significantly improving productivity while keeping the overall device structure integrated and manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The operating device is designed to move in multiple dimensions (horizontal and vertical directions) to access vial holders arranged in different positions. This multi-dimensional movement capability enables the dispensers to reach multiple vials simultaneously without requiring a overly complex mechanical structure, as the coordination is managed through programmed motion paths
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the efficiency of a series of treatments on multiple specimens by allowing simultaneous reagent addition, centrifugation, and waste management, improving overall processing speed.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifugation device including a plurality of vial holders for holding vials each containing a specimen, the plurality of vial holders being arranged evenly on a same circumference, the centrifugation device being configured to perform centrifugation on the specimen in the vials held by the plurality of vial holders by rotating the plurality of vial holders along the circumference
Data Source
AI summary
A specimen treatment apparatus may include a centrifugation device including a plurality of vial holders, the plurality of vial holders being arranged evenly on a same circumference an operating device holding two dispensers, the two dispensers being arranged side by side in parallel with each other in a state where ends of the two dispensers face vertically downward, the operating device being configured to simultaneously move the two dispensers, and a controller configured to control operations of the centrifugation device and the operating device, wherein a distance between the ends of the two dispensers is substantially the same as a distance between centers of two vial holders disposed parallel to an alignment direction of the two dispensers by the centrifugation device, and the controller is configured to dispose two vial holders holding vials to be accessed by the two dispensers in parallel with the alignment direction by controlling the centrifugation device, and to cause the two dispensers to simultaneously access the two vials to be accessed disposed in parallel with the alignment direction by controlling the operating device.